Insect-destroyer.



H. JAHR. INSECT DESTROYER. APPLICATION FILED MAY 8. 1916.

1,204,777. Patented Nov. 14, 1916.

nnrran STATES PATENT QFFIE. I

HENRY use, or" annivrorm', PENNSYLVANIA.

ms ncr-nnsrrtovna.

Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Nov. 14,1916.

Application filed Me's. 1916. V SerialNo. 96,218.

To all whom it may concern." 7 Y Be it known that I, H NRYJAHR, a citifzen'of'the" United States, residingat Ardinoi'e, in t-he county ofMontgomery, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new andusefulImprovements 1n Insect-Destroyers; and to be a full, clear, andexact description of the" inventlomsuch as will enable others skilledinthe art to which it appertains to make anduse the same. i

This invention relates to insect destroyers of the type commonly knownas ffly swatters.

One object of the invention isto provide an improved form of such,device which is adapted especlally' for use 1n killing} flies when thelatter are resting on the ceiling" of a room.

Another object is to provide an improved form of device of thischaracter which may be operated by one hand.

lVith the above and other objects in view, as will be hereinafterapparent the invention consists in general of certain novel details ofconstruction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described,illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, like characters of reference indicate likeparts in the several views, and Figure 1 is a perspective view of thedevice ready for use; Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation partly brokenaway showing the device in full lines in one position and in dottedlines in the second position; Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail section takenlongitudinally through the handle of the device, certain parts of thedevice being broken away; Fig. 4 is a detail of the slotted portion ofthe handle withthe remainder of the handle covering this slotted portionremoved.

In carrying out the objects of the inven' tion there is provided ahandle 10 which I do hereby declare the following terminates in spacedre cor1iinun ic ating with the notch lt at the lower end'of. the slot,the notch being formed ln' onjel of the walls of the slot and having anopening'fle leading outward therefrom through the sides of the handle.Movably mounted inthis openin is pin 16 to which is fixed one en'dof aspring 1.7, the other end of" said springbeing secured'to the handle.Tli1s,'spr' 1ng normally holds the pin outwardly disposed but pressureon, the

outer endof the in will'bend' the spring and force, the pin into thenotch.

Mounted on theupp'er end of the handle 101s a eas gr ferrule 18' andbetween one side of this casing of ferrule is secured one end 19, ofleaf spring, 20, which is. bowed;

laterally as at21int'erinediat'e" its ends and has its'terminal free endextending across the mouth of the opening 11 in spaced relation thereto.Slidably mounted in the opening 11 is a rod 22, the rod projecting fromthe end of the opening toward the terminal portion of the leaf springand having its lower end extending into the slot 12 where it is providedwith a cross member 23, the ends of which extendout ward through thesides of the slot to form finger. grips. A link 24 connects the upperend of the rod 22 with the spring 20 and on the terminal free end of thespring is mounted a striking member 25 preferably consisting of an ovalpiece of woven wire' screen having a bending and reinforcing means 26around its edge.

In operation, the spring 20 has its ends brought toward each other tostress the spring by pulling downward on the cross 'bar 23. V This crossbar is then engaged in the notch 1 k and the device is ready for use.When a fly is observed on the ceiling, the striking member is positionedbelow the fly and to within two or three inches thereof. The pin 16 ispressed inward with the thumb of the hand holding the device and thisforces the cross bar out of the notch and therefore releases the rod.The spring 20, being under stress, throws the free'end away from thefixed end and causes the striking member to engage that portion of theceiling whereon thefiy is resting thus killing the latter. 7

There has thus been provided a simple and efficient device of the kinddescribed and for the purpose specified.

It is obvious that many minor changes may be made in the form andconstruction of the invention without departing from the materialprinciples thereof. It is not therefore desired to confine the inventionto the exact form herein'shown and described but it is wished to includeall such as come within the scope claimed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is

1. A fly swatter including an elongated handle having an openingextending longi tudinally from one end and terminating in spacedrelation to the other end, a spring fixed t0 the handle and bowedlaterally to extend across the open end of the handle, a rod slidable inthe opening and having connection with the opening, a striking membercarried by the free end of the spring, and a latch and trigger mechanismat the inner end of the opening to releasably hold the rod inward andthe spring under stress.

2. A fiy swatter including an elongated handle'having an openingextending longitudinally thereof and terminating in spaced Copies ofthis patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing theCommissioner properly ing leading outward therefrom through the handle,a pin movable in the last-mentioned opening, a spring yieldably holdingthe pin outward, arod slidable in the longitudinal opening andprojecting from the end thereof, a cross bar on the rod movable in the 2slot and engageable in the notches, a leaf spring fixed to the handleand bowed laterally to extend across the end of the handle in spaced.relation thereto, a link connecting the rod and spring, and a strikingmember carried by the free end of the spring.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature, in the presence of twowitnesses.

HENRY J AHR.

Witnesses: EDWARD J. LYONS, GEo. R. l/VILLIs, Jr.

Washington, D. G.

of Patents.

